Medical Retirement/Civil Service

kazz3105_2

I had a medical in early November The Dr i saw advised that i be medically retired. I have 2 questions
1) How long does 'the paperwork' usually take (My supervisor told me in early December that it would be a month)

2)Should someone 'keep me in the loop'

The only time i hear from work is when they ring to tell me that my sick note has ran out and needs renewing. When i ask about medical retirement i just get...nothing new to report, surely there should be other forms of contact and someone should contact me to let me know what is going on. As i only now receive IB when my bills come through the door i say to them 'join the queue' i cannot telephone companies to explain my situation as my phone was cut off, along with my mobile (both still within 12 month contracts) and to be honest i cannot afford stamps to send letters either. I can't seem to get answers from anywhere including HR but hopefully someone on here will help.
In eager anticipation.

Jules

Do you not get pay at pension rate?
I presume your half pay has run out so you may be entitled to pay at pension rate, this is paid as well as your IB.
The reason I know this is my OH was off long term from the civil service for 2 years and got pay at pension rate once half pay ran out.

Not sure about the paperwork and how long it should take but really someone should be keeping you informed, they have an obligation to keep in touch with staff that are off long term, although this rarely happens.

Do you have a union? I would go to them if you do (even if your not a member so unions will advise you anyway) or what about a welfare officer, all these things should be available to you as a civil servant.

From our experience you need to keep hounding these people, do you deal with PPPA? If so their number is a freephone, if you can't afford the phone calls go into your work and use their phones and try and get through to pensions and see if they have any info.

I would also ring the office of the doctor who saw you, it is possible that he hasn't sent the paper work, or have you already received a letter telling you his decision?

My OH did have the medical but was turned down for medical grounds, once everyone is up later I will have a look at the paperwork and see what timescales we had etc.

I do know that it takes them at least 12 weeks to organise pension payments etc. I will be back later when I get my hands on the paperwork. In the meantime try and get onto them ref pay at pension rate (this is equivilent to half pay) and don't be soft, your entitled.

Jules

Canvey

Jules is spot on, when my half pay ran out, I was put onto 'sick pay at pension rate'. This is the amount that your pension will pay per month (to within a pound or two).
The whole medical retirement process can be a bit long winded. Even though mine was an open and shut case, it took 2 years to be sorted.
My trade union has a welfare fund. The local rep sent me the forms, I returned them along with details of my outgoings and debts, and they sent me enough to pay off my credit card !!
Hope this helps,
Good luck

Canvey

sandy2_2

A similar thing happened to me but I went into the office and saw my Manager and got them to phone up and sort it out. I also wrote to the HR dept and told them that I felt I had been caused additional stress because of the length of time I had been left without my correct money entitlement and asked for interest on the amount. (nothing to loose by making a fuss) anyway they not only sent a letter of apology, the interest but an extra substantial ex gratia payment as well.
When my half pay ran out I only received sickness benefit not pension rate payments.

annie12

kazz3105 wrote: »

I had a medical in early November The Dr i saw advised that i be medically retired. I have 2 questions
1) How long does 'the paperwork' usually take (My supervisor told me in early December that it would be a month)

2)Should someone 'keep me in the loop'

The only time i hear from work is when they ring to tell me that my sick note has ran out and needs renewing. When i ask about medical retirement i just get...nothing new to report, surely there should be other forms of contact and someone should contact me to let me know what is going on. As i only now receive IB when my bills come through the door i say to them 'join the queue' i cannot telephone companies to explain my situation as my phone was cut off, along with my mobile (both still within 12 month contracts) and to be honest i cannot afford stamps to send letters either. I can't seem to get answers from anywhere including HR but hopefully someone on here will help.
In eager anticipation.

Hi kazz, I'm also a civil servant in the same position as yourself. You are actually supposed to have sickness absence interviews, I think the first is after 8 weeks.

There is paperwork that has to be completed for requesting to be medically retired, you have to be seen by occupational health who make the final decision (so I'm told).

I completed my paperwork in November & I'm still waiting to be seen by occupational health!

I would definitely recommend getting in touch with the union, they will help.

Good luck. x

annie12

Canvey wrote: »

Jules is spot on, when my half pay ran out, I was put onto 'sick pay at pension rate'. This is the amount that your pension will pay per month (to within a pound or two).
The whole medical retirement process can be a bit long winded. Even though mine was an open and shut case, it took 2 years to be sorted.
My trade union has a welfare fund. The local rep sent me the forms, I returned them along with details of my outgoings and debts, and they sent me enough to pay off my credit card !!
Hope this helps,
Good luck

Canvey

My half pay ran out in September, I now just get Incapacity Benefit. Should I be getting something else as well?

kazz3105_2

I was told that it's the pensions dept not HR that deal with Medical retirement!!

sandy2 wrote: »

A similar thing happened to me but I went into the office and saw my Manager and got them to phone up and sort it out. I also wrote to the HR dept and told them that I felt I had been caused additional stress because of the length of time I had been left without my correct money entitlement and asked for interest on the amount. (nothing to loose by making a fuss) anyway they not only sent a letter of apology, the interest but an extra substantial ex gratia payment as well.
When my half pay ran out I only received sickness benefit not pension rate payments.

kazz3105_2

I was told that pay at pension rate could only be paid if i was to return to work within 6 weeks, so will need to search around and check this out. My half pay ran out straight away due to previous sick absences all linked with the same illness.

Jules wrote: »

Do you not get pay at pension rate?
I presume your half pay has run out so you may be entitled to pay at pension rate, this is paid as well as your IB.
The reason I know this is my OH was off long term from the civil service for 2 years and got pay at pension rate once half pay ran out.

Not sure about the paperwork and how long it should take but really someone should be keeping you informed, they have an obligation to keep in touch with staff that are off long term, although this rarely happens.

Do you have a union? I would go to them if you do (even if your not a member so unions will advise you anyway) or what about a welfare officer, all these things should be available to you as a civil servant.

From our experience you need to keep hounding these people, do you deal with PPPA? If so their number is a freephone, if you can't afford the phone calls go into your work and use their phones and try and get through to pensions and see if they have any info.

I would also ring the office of the doctor who saw you, it is possible that he hasn't sent the paper work, or have you already received a letter telling you his decision?

My OH did have the medical but was turned down for medical grounds, once everyone is up later I will have a look at the paperwork and see what timescales we had etc.

I do know that it takes them at least 12 weeks to organise pension payments etc. I will be back later when I get my hands on the paperwork. In the meantime try and get onto them ref pay at pension rate (this is equivilent to half pay) and don't be soft, your entitled.

Jules

Jules

My hubby got pay at pension rate for just over a year as did 2 collegues, so I think someone is pulling a fast one with you, how is anyone supposed to know they will be fit to return in 6 weeks!!!!!!
It is meant to help prevent hardship as legally you are still employed by the civil service but not receiving any pay.

It took nearly a year from the Dr agreed medical retirement for a collegue until it actually happened.

I'm trying to find the info on sick pay at pension rate, have searched the civil service pensions web site, will try PPPA and see what I can find. If I hadn't just been made reundant I could have searched on the intranet in work, if there are any civil servants reading this have a search on the PPPA intranet and see if you can find anything.

Thanks

Jules

Me again!!!
This link will give you some info on the process
http://www.pppaservices.qinetiq-tim.com/cm/defenceintranet/PeopleServices/PensionsAndLeavingTheDepartment/EarlyDeparture/UndIllHealthRet/default.htm

Not all the links you click on will lead anywhere as its a scaled down version of the intranet.

This link might be of use too

http://www.pppaservices.qinetiq-tim.com/cm/defenceintranet/PeopleServices/HealthWellBeingAndSickness/default.htm

It covers some sickness issues and about getting help.

kazz3105_2

I can't understand my supervisor he just told me that if i don't get my sick note in within the week it will slow my claim right down.....my Dr is getting sick of giving me sick notes 'because they can't keep up with their work' I also asked about sick pay at pension rate and was told that i was not entitled to it I will do further inquiries but was told that policy states that sick pay at pension rate can ONLY be paid if the employee is returning or expecting to return to work within 6 weeks. I was told that other Government departments have different policies and as i work for DWP then MOD policy is 'useless'....are they taking the pi** out of me??